As a new school year gets underway, teachers across the nation are back in their classrooms, offering everything from lessons to hugs, from encouragement to discipline, and let鈥檚 face it: They don鈥檛 always get the credit they deserve. But 国产探花 alum Katie Gawlik had only been teaching for two years when her campus celebrated her outstanding work as an educator by naming her Rookie of the Year for 2026.

鈥淏eing named Rookie of the Year is significant to me because it recognized the hard work, growth, and dedication I put into my first years of teaching,鈥� said Gawlik. 鈥淚t was especially meaningful because Tradition Elementary is where I student taught and where I have grown so much as an educator.鈥�

After graduating from 国产探花 in 2024, Gawlik found an enduring home at Tradition鈥攐ne of East Central ISD鈥檚 elementary schools on the outskirts of San Antonio鈥攚here she鈥檚 now beginning her third year of teaching second grade.

She credits 国产探花 with giving her a sound footing on which to build her career. 鈥淚 think 国产探花鈥檚 education program stands out because the smaller setting allowed me to build deep connections with my professors and peers,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 felt comfortable asking questions, taking risks, and growing as both a student and future educator.鈥�

And she鈥檒l soon be back on campus at 国产探花 to take part in a one-day conference for future educators, in connection with this year鈥檚 Krost Symposium, which is centered around the science of learning. Gawlik will join fellow alumni working in the field of education to share some of what she鈥檚 learned since graduating, presenting her talk 鈥淚nspired to Teach: Driven to Grow.鈥�

鈥淢y biggest piece of advice for future educators is to never stop learning and growing. You don鈥檛 have to have everything figured out right away,鈥� she said. 鈥淒o not be afraid to ask questions, take risks, learn from your mistakes, and remember why you chose to teach in the first place. Teaching will not always be easy, but it is so rewarding.鈥�

Those rewards come in many forms for Gawlik鈥攆rom having a positive impact students, to being recognized for hard work, to forming relationships with the little ones who come into her classroom every day. 鈥淭he highlight of my day as an elementary school teacher is hugging my students when they walk in each morning,鈥� Gawlik says. 鈥淓very day is a fresh start and a new opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference in these kids鈥� lives.鈥�

Back in the spring of 2024, 国产探花 organized its own chapter of the society, naming it Alpha Mu Psi, and less than two years later, the national branch had taken notice. Alpha Mu Psi won a Best Chapter Award for 2024鈥�25. And now, only a year later, history is repeating itself: Alpha Mu Psi has been named a Best Chapter once again for 2025鈥�26.

鈥淭o graduate and know that the work I along with my peers and advisor put in will continue to benefit future students is something I am incredibly proud of,鈥� said 国产探花 alum Allegra Negrete 鈥�26, who graduated in May with a degree in political science. Negrete served as president of Alpha Mu Psi from 2024 to 2026. 鈥淚 am glad that our organization has been recognized, and I hope that it continues to grow and be recognized in the future.鈥�

Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, assistant professor of political science at 国产探花, serves as faculty advisor to the organization.

鈥淧rofessor O’Brochta should be recognized for his extraordinary leadership and dedication to the students who are members of the chapter,鈥� said Dr. Tanya B. Schwarz, executive director of Pi Sigma Alpha. 

Alpha Mu Psi is one of six chapters based at institutions similar in size to 国产探花 to be honored with a Best Chapter distinction, out of over 830 Pi Sigma Alpha chapters across the nation. Pi Sigma Alpha鈥檚 overarching mission is to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science鈥攚hich perfectly complements Alpha Mu Psi鈥檚 goals of recognizing students for their outstanding achievement in political science and providing members with scholarship, networking, and publication opportunities. 鈥淲e were impressed with the chapter鈥檚 achievements in developing activities promoting undergraduate research, especially given the significant challenges faculty and students around the country continue to face,鈥� said Schwarz.

Alpha Mu Psi works closely in conjunction with 国产探花鈥檚 student-led CIVIC (Creating InVolved Individuals and Communities) Club. Both organizations are dedicated to strengthening a sense of community among students, providing resources for vocational discernment and career development, and recognizing exceptional student work.

Qualifying for membership in Pi Sigma Alpha at 国产探花 entails demonstrating academic excellence in political science, sociology, and geography courses while maintaining a high overall grade point average. Membership carries with it the benefits of belonging to a national organization, along with scholarship and professional development opportunities.

鈥淢embership in Pi Sigma Alpha is our highest academic honor in political science, sociology, and geography,鈥� said O鈥橞rochta. 鈥淎s a result, our departments pay the financial costs of joining so that students join for free. We want all students who meet the requirements to be recognized and to be able to join without hesitation.鈥�

To learn more about 国产探花鈥檚 political science program and its award-winning chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, click here.

国产探花 alum Jennifer Biry is having a full-circle moment.

Soon after crossing the stage at 国产探花, having earned her degree in business administration, she went to work for telecommunications giant AT&T. She worked there for more than two decades, climbing ranks before eventually moving on to other opportunities at Warner Media and then McAfee.

But this year, she鈥檚 returned to her old stomping grounds at AT&T鈥攖his time around as Deputy CFO. And come January, she鈥檒l transition into the role of Senior Executive Vice President and CFO. 鈥淭he company helped shape my career, and I’m excited to bring back the cross-industry perspective and expertise I’ve learned along the way to help lead the next chapter,鈥� Biry says.  鈥淲hen I joined the company out of college, I never imagined I would one day return to AT&T as its future CFO.鈥�

But it makes sense, when you think about the broad range of knowledge Biry has collected over the course of her career thus far. She knows AT&T because she worked her way through it.  鈥淥ver the years, I was fortunate to take on roles across finance, strategy, operations, and media, and each one gave me a deeper understanding of how the business operates鈥攁nd more importantly, how decisions create long-term value for customers, employees, and shareholders.鈥�

From where she鈥檚 standing now, she can look over her career and clearly see the first big break. 鈥淓arly in my career at AT&T, I was asked to support the BellSouth and Cingular merger,鈥� she recalls. 

Some readers will remember Cingular, an American mobile phone company. It was owned by AT&T and BellSouth, but after the two companies became one, it was fully owned by AT&T. And Biry was right in the middle of that acquisition.

“Growth comes from saying yes to the uncomfortable. Some of the best opportunities are the ones that feel a little bigger than you鈥檙e ready for.鈥�

鈥淚 was one of the younger members of the team, and it was a tremendous opportunity that gave me exposure to a high-stakes transaction, insight into different parts of the business, and the ability to interact with leaders I wouldn鈥檛 have otherwise worked with so early in my career,鈥� she says. 鈥淟ooking back, that experience was pivotal. It broadened my perspective and accelerated my development as a leader. It also reinforced what I learned at 国产探花: Growth comes from saying yes to the uncomfortable. Some of the best opportunities are the ones that feel a little bigger than you鈥檙e ready for.鈥�

Sound advice for up-and-coming Bulldogs鈥攁nd pretty much everyone, no matter what phase of their careers they are in. But Biry is a strong believer in supporting and encouraging the next generation of leaders. To that end, she has a few words of advice for current students: 鈥淭ake full advantage of the opportunities you have in front of you today. My career has been built on a strong foundation that started with the quality of education I received at 国产探花,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd I believe that a true difference maker is 国产探花鈥檚 focus on giving its students access to professors who bring real-world business experience into the classroom. It鈥檚 an incredible advantage to learn from people who have navigated the challenges and opportunities you are studying, and who can connect lessons with practical business situations.鈥�

 Biry says 国产探花鈥檚 smaller-sized classes are a great asset, because they allow professors to really lean in and influence the careers of their students. 鈥淚n fact, it was one of my professors, Ron Huntsman, who encouraged me to pursue accounting,鈥� she adds. 鈥淗e thought that my passion for business combined with a solid understanding of the financial statements would be a unique and valuable combination. That advice ended up putting me on a path that shaped the rest of my career and ultimately led me to where I am today.鈥�

She鈥檚 still connected to her alma mater鈥攆or example, she鈥檚 served on the university鈥檚 Executive Advisory Council for the Business Department, now called the Business Advisory Council. She鈥檚 also the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award.

And she still carries with her the most important lessons she learned back in her undergrad days. Among those lessons: Growth happens when you鈥檙e willing to step outside of your comfort zone. 鈥淢y time at 国产探花 gave me a strong business foundation, but more importantly, it taught me how to stay curious, ask questions, and keep learning,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I started my career, I was solely focused on 鈥榗limbing the corporate ladder,鈥� but I soon learned to think of my trajectory as a lattice rather than a ladder. The roles that helped me grow the most were often the ones that stretched me in new directions鈥攁nd many weren鈥檛 promotions. That mindset of embracing new experiences and continuous learning is something I still rely on every day.鈥�

Alongside those lessons, there are fond memories of her undergrad years鈥攏ot necessarily of a specific event, but more about the sense of community that permeates the 国产探花 campus. 鈥湽交� is a place where people genuinely invest in one another’s success,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he relationships I built with classmates, professors, and mentors had a lasting impact on me and helped shape the person and leader I’ve become. It’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed connected to the university over the years and why I’m so passionate about giving back to current students.鈥�

On August 25, 国产探花 kicked off its 136^th academic year with its traditional opening academic convocation ceremony. The event featured remarks from 国产探花 President Dr. Debbie Cottrell, Seguin Council Member Jim Lievens, and 国产探花 Student Government Association President Justin Friedman.

The audience also heard from Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Steven Vrooman, Chair of the 国产探花 Board of Regents Mike Washington 鈥�77, and the Rev. Dr. Wes Cain, campus pastor and director of Community Engagement and Mission.

This year, 国产探花 welcomes more than 350 new students, including freshmen and transfers. In addition, there is a whole new crop of graduate students, both online and in-person, as well as nursing students who will attend classes on the university鈥檚 New Braunfels and Houston campuses.

It鈥檚 hard to believe鈥攃onsidering where 国产探花 alum Erika Gonzales 鈥�22 is now鈥攖hat she actually never intended to become a nurse.

Where she is now: working in the ER at University Health in San Antonio, about to enter a highly elite training program for forensic nurses. Where she was back in college: studying biology and English, growing an appreciation for communication and the power of stories.

鈥淚 had no intention of becoming a nurse,鈥� she admits. 鈥淢uch less working in critical care or emergency medicine. I always imagined myself behind the scenes, doing research and trying to understand the why behind the human experience. I thought my purpose was to understand people. I eventually realized my purpose was to walk alongside them.鈥�

Once she earned her degree in biology and English at Our Lady of the Lake University, she went on to study applied medical anthropology at the University of North Texas, which she says helped her gain a better understanding of culture, health inequities, and human experience. All of that, believe it or not, paved Gonzales鈥檚 path to nursing. 鈥淟ooking back, I realized those disciplines weren’t separate at all,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hey were all preparing me for the kind of nurse I wanted to become. Nursing became the place where all those passions intersected.鈥�

That intersection brought her to 国产探花, where she pursued her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at 国产探花鈥檚 New Braunfels campus. But what truly brought her to the field of nursing was life itself. 鈥淭he biggest turning point wasn’t in a classroom . . . it was in my own life.鈥�

Turning Point

Gonzales watched her mother navigate a heart condition, and later, was with her uncle during his final moments after a battle with cancer. 鈥淭hose experiences changed the way I viewed health care. I realized that two people could have the same diagnosis but experience care very differently because of their life experiences, culture, support systems, and access to resources,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 realized my family’s experiences weren’t unique; they reflected the realities faced by many individuals from minority and underserved communities.鈥�

That marked the turning point. That was when Gonzales realized she wanted to do more than study the disparities that exist in our culture. She wanted to help change them.

鈥淧eople sometimes describe my path as winding, but I see it as cumulative,鈥� she says. 鈥淓very degree gave me another lens through which to understand people.鈥� Nursing, she explains, offers the privilege of walking beside people with compassion during life鈥檚 most difficult moments. 鈥淚 don’t see my education as a series of detours. I see it as the foundation that continues to shape the nurse I am today.鈥�

That nurse works in trauma care, in emergency rooms, facing what most of us would consider some of the hardest moments in human existence. And as she moves into forensic nursing, she鈥檒l take a step further, helping victims of abuse, neglect, violence, and assault, partnering with the legal system, and offering the truest kind of advocacy: She will not only care for victims; she will also stand up for them through her work.

鈥淲hat motivates me isn’t the complexity of the work; it’s the opportunity to preserve dignity, empower patients, and ensure they feel seen, respected, and heard during some of the most difficult moments,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hile people often describe this work as requiring courage, I’ve come to see it as an opportunity to meet people with compassion during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.鈥�

Gonzales鈥檚 passion for advocacy has guided much of her career. For example, she helped establish her hospital’s Bereavement Committee, developing the Legacy Box initiative for grieving families of adult patients. She organized a hospital-wide Bereavement Conference, and now teaches trauma-informed care to postgraduate residents and critical care nurse fellows. 鈥淭hose experiences have reinforced my belief that healing extends beyond treating physical injuries. It also means honoring a person’s story. For me, forensic nursing isn’t a departure from my career; it’s the natural continuation of it.鈥�

Influences in Nursing School

And her years at 国产探花 helped her get here. She notes the genuine caring of the faculty, and specifically recalls three professors who changed the course of her career and left a lasting impression. The first: Dr. Sabrina Koog. 鈥淒uring my junior year, when I was struggling in one of my nursing courses, Dr. Koog met me at a local taqueria to study because she knew it was an environment where I felt comfortable and could focus,鈥� Gonzales recalls. 鈥淚t wasn’t just about reviewing content; it was about meeting me where I was and reminding me that I wasn’t alone.鈥�

Then there was Dr. Elizabeth Garcia. 鈥淟ater, after I failed one of Dr. Garcia’s courses, I seriously questioned whether I belonged in nursing,鈥� says Gonzales. 鈥淚nstead of letting that be the end of my story, she invited me to meet with her privately. She saw potential in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. That conversation changed the way I saw myself. It reminded me that one setback doesn’t define who you are or what you’re capable of becoming.鈥�

And finally, there was Dr. Wendi Gines. 鈥淒r. Gines challenged me in a different way,鈥� says Gonzales. 鈥淪he encouraged me to become comfortable with being uncomfortable; to embrace uncertainty, trust the process, and move forward even when I didn’t feel completely ready. That lesson has stayed with me throughout my career, from trauma critical care to the emergency department, and now as I pursue forensic nursing.鈥�

Gonzales says that those three, 鈥渁long with so many others at 国产探花, didn’t just teach me how to become a nurse; they modeled what it means to walk alongside someone through moments of uncertainty. Their example continues to shape how I care for patients, mentor colleagues, and invest in the next generation of health care professionals. I hope that, in some small way, I can offer others the same compassion, encouragement, and belief that they so generously offered me.鈥�

A Healing Presence

That鈥檚 exactly what Gonzales does on a daily basis for her patients. 鈥淔or me, the most gratifying part of nursing isn’t any single procedure, diagnosis, or clinical success,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚t’s the privilege to be present for some of the most significant moments in another person’s life. Whether it’s celebrating a patient’s recovery, helping someone navigate an unexpected diagnosis, or supporting a family through the loss of a loved one, I’ve learned that the moments people remember most are often the human ones. They may not remember every intervention we performed, but they remember how we made them feel.鈥�

Gonzales says that healing doesn鈥檛 always look like one would expect. 鈥淪ometimes healing means helping someone feel safe. Sometimes it means giving a family the space to say goodbye. Sometimes it simply means making sure a person feels less alone.

鈥淥ne phrase that has stayed with me throughout my career is: Science tells us how to care for people; compassion reminds us why. That balance is what I strive for every day. Every patient has a story, and while I may only be part of one chapter, I hope it’s one in which they felt seen, respected, and genuinely cared for.鈥�

One way she demonstrates compassion for her patients is through curiosity. 鈥淓arly in my career, I thought becoming a better nurse meant learning more procedures, memorizing more medications, and having the right clinical answers,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hile those things are essential, I’ve learned that some of the best nursing happens when we slow down long enough to become curious about the person in front of us. I’ve learned that asking, 鈥榃hat happened to this person?鈥� can be just as important as asking, 鈥榃hat’s wrong?鈥� That lesson continues to shape the way I care for every patient I meet. It reinforces my belief that science tells us how to care for people, but curiosity and compassion remind us why.鈥�

The Vocation of Lutheran Higher Education (VLHE) conference has long featured engaging presentations on topics that impact university and student life. For the first time in recent memory, student voices were directly included in the conference with sophomore English and theology double major Emma Bohmann and junior communication studies and political science double major Andie Lozano-Lomeli presenting a session alongside Dr. William O鈥橞rochta, the Hugo & Georgia Gibson Endowed Assistant Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of Political Science.

The path toward being invited to present their session titled 鈥淪ustaining Campus as a Civic Community鈥� started last fall when O鈥橞rochta organized a civic engagement and faith perspectives conference at 国产探花 (/news/a-meeting-of-minds-civic-engagement-and-faith-perspectives-conference). Lozano-Lomeli presented at the conference on her scholarship on civic engagement, and Bohmann contributed a reflection on her experience attending the conference that was later published in a special volume of Intersections on the conference that O鈥橞rochta edited (/news/finding-intersections-tlu-contributes-to-necu-magazine).

After the special issue was published, one of the conference organizers, Rev. Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes, reached out to O鈥橞rochta to invite him to present at the VLHE conference. 鈥淚 immediately wanted to invite Andie and Emma to present with me because the presentation topic focuses on students-as-partners in developing democratic decision-making on campus that then leads to civic engagement off campus,鈥� O鈥橞rochta said. Thanks to Windham-Hughes鈥檚 enthusiasm at the co-created presentation and the support of the Brandes Fund for Religious Activities, the group traveled to Minneapolis and presented the session twice.

The presentation began with a theological framework for holistic Christian civic engagement based on a model that Bohmann learned about in a congregational context. 鈥淭he model is called 鈥榰pward, inward, and outward,鈥� and the point is that each piece represents an area in which an individual may be involved in their life: upward describes interactions with the Divine, inward with close community (such as family, friends, and congregation), and outward with larger civic community,鈥� Bohmann said.

Bohmann then connected the model to the college campus context, specifically NECU (Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities) institutions. 鈥淔irst, while many institutions place a strong emphasis on one of the three areas, the model is more productive when all three areas work in conjunction with the other two. That means that whatever is discovered in spiritual education must also be translated well to the inward communities and outward civic spaces. Second, each area of the model must be fully reflective of the students-as-partners approach (which includes both a clear invitation for participation and an ongoing accompaniment through the co-creation process) so that each student feels a sense of buy-in. Essentially, each step of the ladder must be democratic in nature. Finally, we suggest that the model most naturally flows from the top-down; when spiritual engagement inspires a call to civic action, students feel the need to discuss and deliberate about this vision with peers and mentors in close-knit community, and at that point they may feel empowered to implement this vision in their on- or off-campus civic community.鈥�

Lozano-Lomeli then led the application section, where she provided examples from 国产探花 and invited the audience to brainstorm in small groups what it meant to include students-as-partners in cultivating on-campus civic engagement. 鈥淢any participants said that Emma and I presenting positively contributed to the learning atmosphere, making it so ideas being presented could not only be conceptualized through the lens of students, but also applied. This is why the presentation was so successful, as I felt universities had the opportunity to consider students-as-partners in a civic space through the lens of civic engagement, while listening to actual students present the idea,鈥� Lozano-Lomeli said.

Both students reflected on their experience after the presentation. Bohmann said, 鈥淎s I begin to spend the next three years of my undergraduate career discovering which context of ministry it is in which I am best fit to work, I found exposure to the high concentration of ministers from many diverse ELCA institutions to be an invaluable part of understanding my vocational path. Further, much of what we heard faculty and staff from other colleges and universities express was reflective of issues that we also experience and often see as unique to 国产探花. So, simply hearing that these pain points and concerns are not, in fact, unique means that they are also not unsupported or unsolvable. This also, I believe, created a renewed sense of responsibility for students, faculty, and staff at 国产探花; if we benefit from a common understanding of Lutheran identity in being a member of NECU, we must also take action steps to ensure that our Lutheran identity is recognizable and valued.鈥�

鈥淭he conference served as a reminder that 国产探花 is a Lutheran institution, and we are better off for it,鈥� Lozano-Lomeli said. 鈥淥ne frame that served me was seeing Lutheran values as an opportunity to embrace key features like vocational education and the insistence of inclusion on our campus. Having the time to discern my vocation with my peers and professors shifted my focus and gave me clarity on what it means to be an advocate and to intentionally practice advocacy. Dr. O鈥橞rochta chose to include Emma and me to be in this space, and that inclusion reflects the idea of students-as-partners, making our existence in the space an immediate example to other institutions on how to apply the concept. This opportunity can be reflected across our university, and I look forward to seeing students intentionally being included as partners.鈥�

O鈥橞rochta is the Hugo and Georgia Gibson Endowed Assistant Professor and chair of political science at 国产探花. He is also director of Professional Development for the American Political Science Association Civic Engagement Section.

He volunteers on a weekly basis as a bicycle mechanic and is on the board of Community Cycles Seguin, and seeks to find ways of building connections between the local community and the university. O鈥橞rochta continually demonstrates dedication to helping his students become engaged citizens and community problem-solvers, merging lessons taught in the classroom with meaningful real-world impact.

鈥淭his recognition is a testament to the effort, engagement, and partnership with so many students who collaborate with me to apply political science theories and methods to address urgent and practical challenges both on our campus and in our community鈥� said O鈥橞rochta. 鈥淚 am grateful for the opportunity to accompany them in this part of their vocation, and I appreciate Dr. Steve Boehm, Professor of Sociology, and Dr. Germaine Walsh, Professor of Political Science, who have helped to make this work possible.鈥�

The local excitement will continue on September 16, when the six Rising Stars will be recognized at the Seguin Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet, and two will be named Top Rising Stars based on their professional leadership and community impact scores.

国产探花 sends warmest congratulations to Dr. O鈥橞rochta, who is always a star in our book!